Bronchial infection symptoms and conditions

I was diagnosed with a bronchial infection 8 days ago and was prescribed the generic form of Biaxin, Clarithromycin (500 MG tablets). About 3 days into treatment, I started having a bad taste in my mouth. I can brush my teeth and rinse with mouthwash, but it still lingers. When I cough, it tastes like it comes up with my cough.

I have an already sensitive stomach, but have had problems every day since starting on the Clarithromycin. I've been taking it each time with food and/or milk, so my stomach is not empty.

On Day 3 of taking this medicine, I ran a fever of 102 and thought I had the flu. However, the fever went away the next day and I was just left with the already existing croupy cough.

I'm now on Day 8 and still have the lingering bad taste and stomach issues. I can't wait to be done with this drug! In the future, I'll be sure to get something other than Biaxin/Clarithromycin!

I was diagnosed with a bronchial infection 1 week ago today. I was prescribed Clarithromycin (500 MG tablets) and Advair. About 3 days into treatment, I started having a bad taste in my mouth. In the last 4 days, the taste seems to be getting worse. I've also been feeling jittery, my heart feels like it's racing and I keep a dull headache. On the 3rd day of taking this combo, I ran a fever between 101.3 and 102.3. I thought I had the flu, but the fever broke with some Tylenol and never came back. I was told I did not have the flu, although my husband and son both got it 2 and 3 days later. After a week of taking medications for an infection, I would think I'd be feeling better, but I'm not. I have 2 more days left of the Clarithromycin, but I'm not sure I want to continue. I think I'll probably cut out the Advair first and see what effect that has on me.

I took levaquin (750) for a bronchial infection about 9 months ago. My doctor gave me individual samples with no info. on any side effects. Like most people, I trusted my doctor and took the pills without question. The aftermath has been a complete nightmare as I have suffered severe joint pain, depression and an atypical anxiety that at times that feels like a drug induced brain fog. I've seen numerous specialist searching for an underlying process causing the symptoms but nothing is ever found. Since the beginning I've contended that the Levaquin was at the root of my problem, but no doctor has ever given that thought any consideration. Prior to the Levaquin I was perfectly fine with no history of any joint pains or mood disorders. Does anyone have any ideas on how to reverse or heal the process?

I was given 5 doses of Avelox for a bronchial infection along with an asthma inhaler (Symbicort). While taking the Avelox my hands were shaky, but not to an extent that it impeded my work (typing/computer operation, writing) or daily life. I did find it harder to concentrate and occasionally I would forget something I was about to do, which is not normal for me. I also found myself zoning out from time to time and having delayed reactions. I was still able to drive, but if you are just starting to take this medication, I recommend waiting to see how much your alertness is impaired before driving or doing anything that requires a lot of focus. After the 5 doses, I felt slightly better, but not as well as I expected. I asked the doctor about this and she said the antibiotics should stay in my system for up to two weeks and I should continue to feel better in that time. It's been a few days, and this seems to be true as I am feeling steadily better.

I have been taking this for 5 days for Bronchial infection, and i started losing where i was going.. I mean am at the age to forget, I forget where i put stuff, can't sleep, just getting more and more depressed.. and the taste is driving me nuts, am eating just to be rid of taste as long as has food in mouth and chewing i can't taste.not going to take it till see my Dr.. and the headakes, i don't have many till now

I was prescribed Levaquin for a sinus infection/ bronchial infection, and it through me through a loop. I couldn't sleep, had crazy dreams, I literally felt this drug moving through my whole body, and the next day I was exhausted even more exhausted than I was from being sick, and am having hot and cold flashes. I am sure this has reduced some of my sinus symptoms, but it is NOT WORTH IT!!! This is a strong medication, and I wouldn't advise anyone take it unless they had no alternatives. This antibiotic should not be prescribed to the average Joe with a Sinus Infection. This is a seriously strong medicine, with severe side affects. I only took it for one day, and threw it in the trash. My doctor called in a different prescription. I am going to use homeopathic remedies from now on. I feel like I have to at least take this alternate antibiotic though since I already started the cycle. I am going to do serious research before I put even one pill in my mouth though

I have only taken 3 - 100mg doses and that's enough for me. The doctor prescribed it for a sinus and bronchial infection. I thought I was just getting much sicker but now know it is the doxy after reading the posts. I have serious nausea, headache, heartburn, feeling like something is stuck in my throat, upper back pain and all day I felt like I couldn't keep my eyes open. I didn't feel half this bad when I went to the doctor. I will call her tomorrow and ask for something else. I have never had a reaction to any antibiotic other than an occasional yeast infection. Thanks for all your posts!

Have taken Avelox for bronchitis and pneumonia in the past. I was well-informed as to possible side effects, and it was suggested that I drink a glass of tonic water daily, that the quinine in it can help offset problems of this class of drugs, the quinolones.
Started myself on it last night for a five-day course, again for bronchial infection (very bad cold turned into bad cough, bringing up discolored mucus, bad taste in mouth). I have asthma and have had bronchial infections many times following a cold.
Had the slightly jumpy reaction, trouble sleeping, and snatches of a song fragment replaying in my head. Finally fell asleep and feel ok this morning--better, actually, as i think i caught the infection at an early stage and it will be gone with a five-day course of this drug.
The reason I have been prescribed this med is that I am allergic to virtually every kind and class of antibiotic. I can successfully take quinolones and sulfa (like Bactrim)--that's it.
However, I've found it to be very effective and the side effects quite minimal. I am drinking that glass of (diet!) tonic water, taking the medication on a full stomach (something carb, like pasta or lots of bread), and being careful not to do any heavy lifting for next couple of weeks to avoid any tendon issues.
This is a very effective drug for those of us who cannot take Zithromax, Penicillin, Erythromycin, etc. My doctor, who runs the pulmonary dept at a hospital, is well-versed in what to use and when.
Will let you all know if there are any problems during or after the 5-day course.

I was prescribed Levaquin yesterday for a severe bronchial infection. I woke up at 3:30am this morning, and my arms were numb from the shoulders to my fingertips. My hands were tingling as if they were "asleep," and my thumbs were drawing inward toward my hand. I could not lift ANYTHING. Also, the joints in my elbows were extremely stiff. I immediately woke my husband up, and we started searching for Levaquin on the internet. I AM SO THANKFUL FOR THE POSTINGS I FOUND ON THIS WEBSITE. I am scared to know what might have happened if I had continued the use of this drug. My fingers, wrists, shoulders, and elbows are so sore right now. I just hope there is no permanent damage to my body.

I was recently on Biaxin for Bronchial infection. I have never felt so bad in my life. I was taking a med to get better and began to feel worse. My Whole body was severely sore to the touch. It hurt to even be hugged. I felt upset all the time and extremely irritable. I honestly thought something was seriously wrong with me. I called the Dr. and she said to stop meds it was a side effect, and she told me to drink as much water as possible to flush meds out of system. Was told in 24 hours I should feel better. Horrible experience do not recommend Biaxin.

My Dad is 75 years old has been in and out of the hospital because of exasperations brought on by COPD. He is fine when he gets out of the hospital with 40mg of Prednisone then like many others tapers to 30mg, 20mg then 10mg until he isn't taking any. Then the exasperations start he's back in the hospital and the Prednisone cycle begins again. I have notice he has mood swings as he has become very irritable. He also use to work out with light weights ever morning, he no longer has the desire. He also use to go for walks, in the park treadmill etc. he no longer does those activities either. I also notice his eyes look different. I realize this drug is keeping him alive, but he has become a different person.

Today I decided that I am not taking Lisinopril anymore. I was sick with flu like symptoms about 2 months ago. I went to my doctor and and was treated for a bronchial infection. I was prescribed and antibiotic and also a blood pressure medicine. My blood pressure was high and had been for some time. The illness did leave but now I have new problems. For some reason the first bottle was a white pill, then changed pharmacy, and now a small peach colored pill. The side effects were worse on the white pill, less but still life altering on the peach pill. Since taking the medicine here are some of the things I have experienced.
- severe coughing, so bad that my neck back and head where killing me;
- loss of bladder (not sure if from coughing or additional side effect);
- hair falling out;
- tightness in my chest;
- difficulty breathing (using inhaler multiply times a day vs. when sick or 2 or 3 times a year);
- muscle pain;
- memory loss (small black out periods with no recovery of the memory for that time);
- feelings of dread; some intermittent periods of severe, some mild confusion;
- sleeping so soundly did not hear people in my home all night, loud music, doors opening and closing, in my room standing next to me talking (normally a very light sleeper);
- confusion for 15 to 20 minutes upon waking, did not know what time it was, where I was, what day;
- falling asleep at desk of if parked in my car;
- digestive issues, severe gas, intermittent watery stool and constipation;
- short tempered, inability to cope with my normal ability to function in high stress level on job (I actually left my job of 8 years on a week ago);
- strange feeling in the middle of forehead and intensifying to almost a muscle kind of pain just in the center.
- the worst was the yesterday, I felt like I did not want to live...just like quitting, thank GOD my children love me so much that they kept trying to keep me engaged in conversation and stayed with me all afternoon until it finally passed. I did not take the medicine yesterday or today. I called my Dr. to have my chart updated today that I will NOT be taking this medicine anymore. I will walk everyday and get on a diet that is fat and salt restrictive, I want to live and do it sanely.

I was prescribed Biaxin XL 1000mg x7 days for a possible secondary bronchial infection (I have had the flu and am coughing up beige sputum). I took the medicine for the first time last night. I made sure to drink yogurt along with it and took it with food as I was worried about GI effects. Wow! Within 2 hours I had major episodes/waves of severe nausea, stomach gurgling/hunger. I definitely developed a dry mouth and metallic taste. I became lightheaded (this is still going on the next day) and dizzy. I feel spaced out completely. Last but not least I had a really bad nightmare last night. I do not ever have nightmares!!! I am an RN, so I am not a "crazy" patient having psychosomatic symptoms. I am never taking this drug again unless my very life depends on it. I will take my chances and let my body heal naturally. Awful drug.

I am so upset just reading these posts! I started on a regimen of 500 mg of Levaquin on Tuesday, January 15, 2008 along with an Advair inhaler for treatment of a bronchial infection. On Thursday I started feeling twinges in my knees when I went up and down steps. By Sunday, I could barely bend my knees so I called the Pharmacist. She suggested it was the Advair so I discontinued using it but still called my MD in the morning. She prescribed massive doses of ibuprofen (800 mg) which in a 32 hour period did NOTHING to relieve the pain. If anything it has gotten worse. I spoke to a friend the same evening who said her husband had severe muscle/joint pain in his hands when he took Levaquin this summer. This morning I called my MD twice in tears (she didn't respond until 3:30 PM.) She still doesn't seem to think it's the Levaquin but told me to take Benadryl (after I told her that this is what my friend's husband's MD told him to do!) I am going in to see her on Thursday morning and I will go armed with these comments from all of you brave people who are suffering from the effects of this awful drug!

Struggling with a sinus infection that threatened to bore into my brain, resulting, ultimately, in seizures and death, I've been taking Levaquin now for three days. I'm experiencing anxiety and sleeplessness, however, it's not from the medication. It's from all the hyperbole on the internet.

Look, I understand that many have had adverse reactions to this medication. One dose of penicillin can kill you without warning. At anytime. No warning. I suspect that few of those labellings Levaquin "poison" would ever bother to consider that - or anything else. All wrapped up in your misery, you spout off with rhetoric that is really better left to lawyers and politicians.

If you were uninformed of the possible side-effects of this medication, blame your doctor. I see that the last post here is dated November 2007, and the bottom of this first page takes us to October 2006. Perhaps one could take a bit of responsibility for oneself and do some research on one's own before popping a pill handed out by a disinterested physician. This information is out there - and yes, your doctor could have seen it, too. But he didn't bother, did he? Neither did you.

So, yes, with my first dose, and despite the impact drill driving through my eye-socket, I waited for the seizures, swelling and signs of imminent demise. Nothing. Sorry. Oh, my sinuses feel better, I don't have a brain infection, and so I won't die frothing at the mouth on my living room floor.

I'm sorry you feel bad - and if you hadn't run off at the mouth calling what may be one of the last effective antibiotics "poison", I might mean that with some sincerity. Oh, and lest you forget, antibiotics are poison by definition - the idea being that they affect/poison/kill the source more than they do the host.

So let's stop the hyperbole, and simply say you had a bad reaction to this medication. Not everyone does. Your option might have been to skip the doctor and the meds altogether, and see how you'd fare. But that would leave the responsibility, and the blame, all on you, then, wouldn't it? Far better to spread it around some.

one year and seven months ago i was given a coarse of laviquin--750 mg--for seven days.after 5 days I was so sick i thought i would die and at times wanted to--I had severe depression, diarea, musle pain a weakness, ancles ,knees, back and shoulders hurt so bad that I had trouble getting out of bed. my heart was raceing at 120 beats per minute and blood pressure was very high. I also had a lot of pain in my butt muscles and could not sleep, then I got to where i could not breathe and had to go to the E R

now it has been over a year and a half and still have trouble walking because of pain in knees and ancles. shoulders are sore all the time and I can not sleep more then a couple of hours at a time. my butt hurts so bad that I can not sit in a recliner for over an hour with out extreame pain.. I changed doctors now tree times and none of them will consider that the laviguin was the cause. the last one did send me to a hospital for a rectal exam but they found no problem. now that I know what caused the problem, the depression is most replaced by anger. this drug should be recalled and the drug companys should be made to pay for our care. I am 67 years old and been in pain now all that time and think I will never be the same again. my advise would be---DON'T TAKE THIS POISON--AVOID AT ALL COSTS

YOUR FRIEND---ALP

I have a seve4e bronchial infection and was prescribed Levaquin 750 mg once a day for 5 days. Tomorrow will be my fifth day although I will not be taking it. When I started the medication I was beginning to feel better although I still had a really bad cough. I was also put on an inhaler.
I woke up today and felt like I have been hit with a truck. I can't hold anything in my hands, my kneew and ankles feel like someone took a bat to them and I have spent all day trying to figure out why I felt worse overall and now why I was feeling this horrible pain that is practially crimpling me.
I found this site when I googled "sever bronchial infection and joint pain".
I'm calling my dr tomorrow but I'm scared. Will this be permanent. I already have 2 herniated discs in my back and now I can't even walk or get up from a seated position.
I have a 1 year old I cannot even hold and have ot have someone help me take care of.
I hope this goes away and soon. The pain is close to unbearable.

My mother was given avelox for a bronchial infection appoximately one week ago. Within 3 days she developed large pustules on her arms, legs, neck and a few on her trunk. She suffered from dizziness, memory loss, confusion and paranoia. She had panick attacks due to the itching which was severe. A trip to redi care brought no help, the staff said they had never seen anything like it and provided a topical steroid cream. Her family physician who prescribed the drug did not seem concerned at all. She is depressed and has had dizzy spells causing her to fall. My mother is 76 and although not as sharp as she used to be she is very concerned about any long term damage this drug may have caused. I am attempting to get her in to another clinic for treatment as her primary DO acts as though the whole thing is no big deal. The area worst effected is behind her knees and on the inside of her arms. I have read the side effects regarding tendonitis and tendon damage and am very concerned.

I am on Levaquin 500 now for what I was told was a respirtory infection, this is my 4th antibotic for the same problem. I am extremely sore and feel as if there are hundred pound weights on my ankles, it hurts to walk. My stomach is sore, my muscles are so tired, it hurts to situp. I am so lightheaded after taking this medicine, I feel ok before I take it but it all hits me at once after I have taken it. I have only been on Levaquin 4 days is this normal?

I went to the hospital yesterday cause I came down with a cold and had a problem wheezing. I thought I would be treated for a bronchial infection, but instead was given meds for asthma (which I did not know I had). The weird part is that the Dr. did not even tell me I had asthma, I has to ask him straight out after he was describing the prescription for inhalers for me.
When I got home I took the Prednisone with soup and fell asleep. I woke up an hour later in such a whirlwind I thought I was in a nightmare. The drug kicked off intense, compulsive breathing and lead to a 12-hour panic attack. I already have an anxiety problem and this drug wigged me out more than ever before. I called the pharmacist and told her what I was goig through, but she said it was normal and to keep up with the dosage.
It was the worse experience of my life. I vomited all day and night, rocked back and forth compulsively, heart was racing like I was bound to have a heart attack, became extremely sore and weak, I could barely walk. I was even praying to God over and over again to take the effects away...I thought I was going to lose it. I thought about going to the emergency room, but knew they wouldn't help me. So, I rode it out in extreme pain and near insanity....my boyfriend was worried sick and didn't know how to help me.
You couldn't offer me any amount of money to take that drug again...I knew I was done with it after one day. Now after reading all of your posts I know for sure that the short and long term affects are far from worth it. Please try any other alternative before taking this drug. I am bitter that the doctors do not warn you before giving it out like candy....makes it difficult to trust professionals with your health. Hope all of you have seen the light.

Justina

Was prescribed 750 mg pills of Levaquin for bronchial infection (am also asthmatic). After first pill, had very intense headache - I took 2 Advil Migraine pills and couldn't get any relief. Had quickly and dramatic shifts of temperature being hot and cold, was dizzy, disoriented, confused, couldn't see clearly, eyes hurt. The strangest side effect is that I felt like I needed sugar. If I drank some fruit juice or ate something sweet, I felt a little better. Sleeping overall was impossible - I was wide awake and exhausted - only feel asleep for short intervals of time totally about 2-3 hours a night. I generally felt absolutely miserable on this medication and quite frankly, it wasn't making my bronchitis any better. I gave up on it finally after 4 days and called my doctor. I was then prescribed 400 mg Avelox which I am taking now. I can tell you that after just one pill of Avelox, I feel better than I did yesterday and I do not have any horrible side effects.

Nausea, vomiting, headache, dizziness, acid stomach, dry mouth, dry throat, tight breathing.

I'm taking 200 mg doxycycline, twice a day. I'm 6 weeks into a 9 week regimen for suspected but unconfirmed lyme disease (no memory of tick bite and no positive tests), and in conjunction with permanent Ceftin 500 mg twice daily as a prophylactic against strep which triggered an apparent and ongoing Rheumatic Fever. (I think my doctor is more confused than I am.)

I've gotten nausea and acid stomach, but both of these are lessened if I drink a large glass of water with the doxycycline. 200 mg can be hard to keep down.

I vomited once but only after taking it with other medicines which my doctor assured me wouldn't interfere. So I spaced them apart by 2 hours and started eating some food prior to the doxycycline, and the result was no more nausea or vomiting, and a much easier time.

Headache & dizziness are reduced when I take the doxycycline with food, and then it seems not to hit me as fast or as hard, and so I tolerate it much better.

At first I thought the doxycylline was helping relieve some kind of bronchial infection, but it was actually just drying out my mucus membranes. Now I wake up early with dry mouth, dry throat, and even my lungs get dry which is causing mild difficulty breathing. The bronchitis I thought it was helping was actually not an infection but an autoimmune symptom of the Rheumatic Fever, and it wasn't really helping with that, it just made it drier. Now instead of coughing up fluid, I get this unproductive dry pain when I cough, and my cough sometimes tastes like blood. I feel the dry pain in my lungs all the time now. I'd rather have the fluid.

3 weeks left on this regimen, which seems like an eternity, but I'll try to stay the course since I want to rule out lyme disease. All these high-dose powerful antibiotics and doctors don't even know what I have. They don't seem to be helping me much.

I took a 2 week treatment in January for a bronchial infection. At the end of the 1st week I began to experience pain in my right elbow and forearm. It is now mid May and the pain has spread to include my wrist joint and the back of my hand as well as the initial sites. There have been periods of as long as 4 days when I have felt no pain and then it returns without injury, mis-use, or over-use. If ever prescribed by a medical provider again I would refuse Levaquin citing SEVERE negative side effects.

This is the second time i've been given levaquin for a bronchial infection and possible pneumonia. Much fatigue, but unable to sleep and the most annoying is the "metallic" odor coming from my body. I can't get rid of it unless I pinch my nose shut and breath thru the mouth. When laying down the odor keeps me from sleeping at all. I am asking my Dr. to prescribe something different for me in the morning ~!!

My 79yr old mother-in-law was given Levaquin at the ER on New Year's Eve for a bronchial infection (?) Her regular DR couldn't see her that day. She has since been in the hospital twice with severe diarrhea. The 1st time it occured x-rays showed an obstruction in her intestine but no mass was found. She was given fluids, a tube down her nose to pump out stomach contents and sent home after 3 days. She began having severe 10-15x daily, diarrhea and was then again admitted to hospital. Her DR keeps saying he thinks Levaquin caused this.

Is this permanent? What can be done now?